Neurological Tests and Procedures

Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy for Wound Healing

Hyperbaric oxygen therapy involves exposing the body to 100 percent oxygen at a pressure that is greater than what you normally
experience. Wounds need oxygen to heal properly, and exposing a wound to 100 percent oxygen can, in many cases, speed the
healing process.

Procedure overview

Hyperbaric oxygen therapy can be done in a number of ways. It can be given in a special type of room called a hyperbaric oxygen
chamber. In this setting, you are completely immersed in 100 percent oxygen delivered at high pressure. It can also be given
through a gas mask, which delivers 100 percent oxygen to your lungs. The rest of your body is at normal oxygen levels, but
still under higher pressure than normal. In some instances, “topical” hyperbaric oxygen therapy can be applied to just one
part of the body. If the wound is on your leg, for example, your leg could be wrapped in a plastic bag that is filled with
100 percent oxygen under pressure. Although this localized form of topical oxygen therapy is easier to do and more affordable,
its effectiveness, compared with the other forms of hyperbaric oxygen therapy, is questionable, according to the latest research.

Reasons for the procedure

A number of studies have shown that hyperbaric oxygen therapy does speed wound healing for many types of wounds. Research
has shown that it’s helpful for:

Delayed radiation injuries

Soft tissue infections

Thermal burns

Certain skin grafts and flaps

Crush injuries

Diabetes-related wounds

Hyperbaric oxygen therapy is effective at healing wounds and, in turn, reducing your risk for amputation, particularly if
you have diabetes.

Risks of the procedure

Side effects of hyperbaric oxygen therapy are extremely rare but include:

Pressure-related trauma to your ears or nose

Nearsightedness

Non–life-threatening convulsions related to oxygen toxicity

Decompression sickness

A few patients with severe congestive heart failure have experienced additional problems with heart function after hyperbaric
oxygen therapy.

During the procedure

Some facilities have a large hyperbaric oxygen chamber that can treat up to a dozen people at a time. But the typical hospital
has what is known as a monoplace, which is equipment for just one person.

Here is what usually happens during a hyperbaric oxygen therapy session:

You will likely be asked to remove your clothing and wear a medical gown that is 100 percent cotton.

You will lie on a table that slides into the monoplace, a clear plastic tube that’s about 7 feet long.

You will be asked to relax and breathe normally during the procedure. You can watch TV or listen to music.

You will be able to talk to the therapist at any time during the treatment, and the therapist can see you and talk to you
at all times

The chamber will be sealed and then filled with pressurized oxygen.

The pressure will rise to 2.5 times the normal air pressure, and you may experience some ear popping or mild discomfort. This
is completely normal.

The session will last anywhere from 30 minutes to two hours.

After the therapy, technicians will slowly depressurize the chamber.

After the procedure

Once your hyperbaric oxygen therapy session is complete, you may feel lightheaded or tired. These symptoms will usually go
away after a short period of time.

The number of hyperbaric oxygen therapy treatments you will need depends on the extent of your wound and how well the wound
responds to therapy.